April 7, 2022
NOTICE: Minimal motorcycle content in this blog entry. You have been warned.
Nearly a year ago, my wife and I met the newest member of the family over a long weekend. A few months later on a subsequent visit, it was confirmed that our son, daughter-in-law and grandson were relocating up the coast; from the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area 1100 miles north to the Pacific Northwest.
😞
Great news for them...and a little less great for us. Instead of it being a ~500 mile trip that can easily be driven in less than a day, now it becomes a ~1500 mile trek thru (or around) the Great Basin region and north toward the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
Several years earlier, certain cherished items of theirs were stored with us at the time our family were apartment dwellers. When their migration west happened, we continued to hold onto those items until they were 'settled'. So, this is the time that 'settled' has happened.
I took some video and posted it onto YouTube for them to see & tell us 'yea' or 'nay' on whether or not to bring it. That happened. From that, a small rental trailer was rented for the 2.5 day trip northwest. This is the short story of that adventure.
Saturday March 27, 2022
Picked up a U-Haul trailer. Got it home and loaded the stuff that's going on this trip. Final preparation made for items we'll be taking. The rig - the SUV and trailer - is parked outside. In the morning, we hitch everything up, load the SUV and hit the road.
Sunday March 28, 2022
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| Routing from southern AZ to northwestern Washington, we'll call this "Route A" |
A couple of routes were evaluated weeks ago. My preferred route to get there is the most direct route. On the map above, follow the line from Las Vegas to the kink in southern Idaho. Half way there our first overnight stop will be in Ely, Nevada. (pronounced 'ee-lee')
Over a decade ago, we stayed in Ely on the return trip home from our first week-long motorcycle tour along a portion California Highway 1 and US-101. First out-of-state Tour to California I told my wife "One day, we'll finish that ride!" Now, we have a reason to do so.
If I really sat down and thought about it, the number of times I've done this first 400 miles...it's been over 20 times - easy. Fortunately, the road continues to be improved over the years, so it's getting a bit nicer to make this drive. The utility trailer tagging along makes it a bit more challenging, though the SUV does fine in getting thru the hills and valleys of Arizona and into Nevada. Of course, the current fuel prices are certainly painful, but they are for everyone, I know.
The day finishes a bit later than I would have liked, but overall, mostly as expected. Fun story that ended the day to share...
We chose to walk a short distance to a local Mexican Food place for dinner. Since the driving day started around 4:30am, we chose to treat this much like we do riding the bike. Light meals (if any...) during the ride, and a nice sit-down something at the end of the day.
When we arrived, the place had one 'regular' (he and the wait staff chatted as if they knew each other), and another couple. We sat down, ordered, enjoyed our meal and really didn't think about the others that were there. 650 miles in about 11.5 hours was a long day.
As we finished our meal, our server approached with good news. Apparently our check was taken care of by someone who had been there. I think it was the couple myself. That was very nice.
Monday March 29, 2022
The second nights plan was to stay in or around Kennewick, WA. I was smart and made reservations, allowing for a potential route deviation as a result of the topography. That's the kink in the route along the WA-OR border. I'd like to cross the Snoqualmie Pass the first time during daylight hours. Watching the regional weather over the last couple of weeks, only dustings of snow at that elevation, along with plenty of rain; it appears the trend will continue.
Well, nope. Yeah, we did run into some rain, but it wasn't long lasting, nor was it exceptionally heavy. I believe this would be an 'April Shower', though it's still March.
660 miles in 11 hours. See what I did there? ;)
A final 225 miles in about four and a half hours to go - or, if routes aren't optimal due to weather, it's 390 miles and 6 hours. A total of ~1530 miles in 2.5 days.
Tuesday March 30, 2022
Weather conditions thru the Cascades as well as the Snoqualmie Pass held up - no snow or ice to contend with and the trip is complete. Mid-day arrival was as planned.
The trailer was off-loaded, and returned to the rental establishment.
More of those funny looking cactus up here. Oh, I was warned, it's green up here - it certainly is!
The 'work' part of the trip for me is done. Now to have fun.
Wednesday March 31, 2022 thru Saturday April 2, 2022
Visit family, spoil grandchild. Those details are for family. Fun times!
Sunday April 3, 2022
Sadly, it's time to go home. It ended up we departed about a half-day early. Another cold front was barreling in, with cold temps - and the possibility of snow in some of the higher Cascade mountain passes.
It's still cool up here for us, but it's seasonable - and wet from time to time. For me, it simply felt like a winter day in the desert. The wet lasted on and off for a good part of the trip. I picked a community in the southern part of Oregon, hoping that we're now east of the major mountain passes.
Around 460 miles in 7.5 hours.
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| An alternate ride home, we'll call this "Route B" |
Monday April 4, 2022
Without the trailer, travel is certainly easier - and fuel mileage is much better. I didn't feel like going the exact same way home...the weather certainly helped with the decision process. Yes, a small amount of California on the route; part of the 'State of Jefferson' (interesting reading...)
There's a LOT of nothin' out here in this region, especially when you cross into Nevada. Yes, even less than the desert we have back home.
The route I chose home got me back on more familiar territory. From Fernley to home, I've been on most of these roads - some of them more than once.
I considered driving home, but as it got close to dark, I gave up that plan.
Boulder City, Nevada had a room. 710 miles in 12.5 hours - including a 45 minute stop for dinner in Vegas.
Tuesday April 5, 2022
A simple six hour drive home. Easy 380 miles. So, 460+710+380 is ~1550 miles in roughly 25 hours. Thus, the two routes are roughly the same in time traveled as well as distance. Just as Google Maps predicted.
We'll be back. Will it be on two wheels for the next trek north? We'll see. When? Soon...
What's next? Seems like I ask this question at the end of many of these trips, don't I?